Not content with increasing the price of its data plans, AT&T apparently is planning to double the cost of upgrading your phone to $36 come this Sunday.

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As you can see from the leaked memo above, the carrier needs nearly $40 from customers who have renewed their contracts and are receiving a new mobile. AT&T has released a statement citing the increased sophistication of modern cell phones as the reason for the price jump,

Wireless devices today are more sophisticated than ever before. And because of that, the costs associated with upgrading to a new device have increased and is reflected in our new upgrade fee... This fee isn't unique to AT&T and this is the first time we're changing it in nearly 10 years.

AT&T is following in Sprint's footsteps, which jumped its upgrade fee last September. Verizon does not charge for trading up to a newer model. [Engadget]